A relaxing weekend on the beach.

Well, I just got back from my weekend trip to Vung Tau. My friend Hien and I took the ferry from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau. It only cost about 12 USD round trip and takes a little over an hour.

After arriving in Vung Tau, the first item on the agenda was to find a hotel.The first hotel we visited was alright, but not really what we were looking for. It was close to the beach, but a little pricey. We started walking to check out a few more hotels, but decided the best the best idea was to just go back to the center of the city, find a hotel, and take a taxi to the beaches. For $20.00/night, we found a decent hotel downtown.

After checking in, both of our stomaches were growling for food. Neither one of us had eaten breakfast. So we walked around looking for a small restaurant (quan), but much to our surprise it was difficult to find any. Finally we found Quan Anh Anh, a place that sold a few rice dishes and soup. VERY DISAPPOINTING. The food was awful. Hien could not even finish his soup is was so terrible, and I could barely finish mine. *Note to self...next time in Vung Tau do not eat at Quan Anh Anh!

Still hungry and craving to go to the beach, Hien and I went back to the hotel, changed into our swimming suits, and hopped into the first taxi we flagged down. "Driver, take us to the beach...Paradise Beach." In about 17 minutes we were in Paradise. We ate at a restaurant on the beach...man it was so delicious. Dried squid and a combination sea food plate. Ngon That! Sitting on the beach, and eating with one of my good friends, man live could not get any better. It was so relaxing and peaceful.

The ocean was clean and the water was surprisingly warm with a few cool cool parts. I was expecting the water to be a lot more colder, like the Pacific Ocean. Good times! After swimming for 3-4 hours, Hien and I decided to just walk around the ocean side. While I was walking around, I notice a lot of people looking at me. My white skin really stands out! On kid came up to me and asked me, referring to my freckles, what was wrong with my skin.

After spending most of the day at the beach, Hien and I went back to the hotel, rested, and went out for dinner. I had seafood curry and Hien seafood spaghetti. Both dishes were outstanding and the portions were huge. Next we went to check out the local club that every local was telling us about, Hollywood. Interesting, very interesting. We just sat at the bar drinking our NON-Alcoholic Orange Fizz watching people dance and drink. I had had about enough of it when I was offered a drink from a guy sitting at a table close to us.

The next morning, we mostly spent at the beach; however, this beach had small little jellyfish, and I got stung a few time. Nothing serious, it just itched for a couple of hours. Later that afternoon, we boarded the ferry back to Ho Chi Minh City.

It was a short trip, but heaps of fun.

This week I am off to the Mekong Delta!